If a doctor is board certified in plastic surgery, is it still important to be FACS and ASPS?

Additional certifications indicate specialized training. For example, to obtain the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) certification plastic surgeons must complete 6 years of surgical training, including a 3 year plastic surgery residency. Among other requirements, plastic surgeons must participate in continuing education to maintain ASPS certification. Finding the right board certified plastic surgeon can take time, it is important to ask about the surgeon about his or her credentials and experience performing the procedure you are considering.

It is important to check what kind of board certification your surgeon has. To be a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, you must be board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, which is one of the member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties and is an important credential. There are many other boards that don’t have the same rigorous certified residency training: 6 years for ABPS in a program credentialed by the Residency Review Committees, which are administered by a group of the major medical organizations, including medical schools and hospitals. Most board-certified plastic surgeons join the American College of Surgeons and are also FACS.

Thank you for your question.
Board Certification in Plastic Surgery with good professional standing should be enough. However you should check with American Board of Medical Specialties and American Board of Plastic Surgery, as most board certified Plastic Surgeon do get membership in ASPS.  All The Best !

Board Certification in plastic surgery and membership in the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) ensure that a physician has subjected themselves to the most rigorous standards of education, training, ethics, and continued improvement.
Board Certification is necessary to identify oneself as a board certified plastic surgeon and ensures that the physician train in a plastic surgery fellowship and NOT IN ANOTHER SPECIALTY. Only surgeons who train in an approved plastic surgery residency or fellowship can sit for the American Board of Plastic Surgery Examination.

Hello and thank you for your question.  Board-certification is a critical aspect of choosing your surgeon.  You will find that some answers to these types of questions are based on the particular background of the surgeon answering the question.  For this reason, it is very
important that you thoroughly research your surgeon before committing to
surgery. It is a good idea to research your surgeon's educational background,
online reviews, before & after pictures, and speak with anyone who you may
know who has had surgery with that surgeon. During your consultation, make sure
that you don't feel rushed and make sure that you have adequate time with your
surgeon and not just their patient coordinator or nurses. If the majority of
your consultation is spent with someone other than the surgeon, this is usually
not a good sign. The most important aspect is to find a surgeon you are
comfortable with. I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified
board-certified expert surgeon who can evaluate you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

the legitimate speciality boards are those that are accredited by the American Board of Medical Specialities (ABMS). Anyone who claims they are board certified in any speciality should be vetted through the ABMS. There are many societies that belong to certain specialities. Some societies are very exclusive and only allow board certified surgeons as members. Other societies give a false representation of qualifications and will admit anyone who will pay their dues. I always recommend trusting your care to a board certified surgeon whose credentials are recognized by the ABMS.  THANKS FOR YOUR GREAT QUESTION. 

Kay876, what's important is that your plastic surgeon is board certified by the ABPS and/or the ABFPRS and has decades of experience along with specialization in the area that you are interested. Experience, specialization and good photos are the best things to look for on the Internet; then trust your instincts during your visit. Good luck and see the video!

Membership in an organization such as FACS is voluntary, as long as you pay the dues. Board certification in plastic surgery or facial plastic surgery is what is most important, depending upon what type of procedures you going to want to have done.

A lengthy and detailed description of board certification has been given already. Although debate will continue forever about superiority the best criteria is the reputation of the surgeon. This does not mean who has the flashiest ads because even the most five-star reviews can be manipulated. Experience of friends and neighbors probably is the best source of information.
In researching the Internet for board certification the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) lists the various boards that it recognizes. There are many boards that claim certification but the best, oldest and most thorough recognition is from the ABMS. Many professional organizations such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) require full training in plastic surgery as well as board certification. Other organization such as the American College of Surgeons (ACS) offer fellowship after meeting certain training and practice criteria. Many pseudo-boards, organizations, and other groups claim superiority that have very loose criteria for qualification.  The debate about superiority can be intense and sometimes contentious.This debate is compounded and conflated by the growth of paid advertisements, endorsements, and "awards programs". In most instances this stems from the monetary aspects including how much is spent in marketing and promotion versus how much is reaped from these expenditures.   Ultimately, the consumer should perform due diligence, rely on credible sources of information such as friends, and follow gut instincts rather than marketing claims and campaigns.

It would benefit you to proceed with a board certified plastic surgeon who displays the commitment to training and excellence as indicated by ASAPS (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery), FACS (Fellow of American College of Surgeons) and FICS (Fellow of International College of Surgeons). The facelift procedure is one of the most technically challenging procedures so expertise and experience are key for success with the procedure.